moth·er

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun A woman who gives birth to a child.
• noun A woman whose egg unites with a sperm, producing an embryo.
• noun A woman who adopts a child.
• noun A woman who raises a child.
• noun A female parent of an animal.
• noun A female ancestor.
• noun A woman who holds a position of authority or responsibility similar to that of a mother.
• noun A mother superior.
• noun Used as a form of address for such a woman.
• noun A woman who creates, originates, or founds something.
• noun A creative source; an origin.
• noun Used as a title for a woman respected for her wisdom and age.
• noun Maternal love and tenderness.
• noun The biggest or most significant example of its kind.
• noun Vulgar Slang Something considered extraordinary, as in disagreeableness, size, or intensity.
• adjective Relating to or being a mother.
• adjective Characteristic of a mother.
• adjective Being the source or origin.
• adjective Derived from or as if from one's mother; native.
• intransitive verb To give birth to.
• intransitive verb To be the source of; create or produce.
• intransitive verb To act as mother to, as in nourishing and protecting.
• intransitive verb To act or serve as a mother.
• noun A stringy slime composed of yeast cells and bacteria that forms on the surface of fermenting liquids and is added to wine or cider to start the production of vinegar.